Disney is moving ahead with Stepsisters, a live-action offshoot of its Cinderella story, with Akiva Schaffer attached to direct. The film is envisioned as a comedic reimagining that shifts focus to the notoriously cruel stepsisters, long portrayed as antagonists in the classic fairy tale.
The screenplay will be written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, who reunite with Schaffer after collaborating on projects like The Naked Gun reboot and the Emmy-winning Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Their script builds on an original draft by Michael Montemayor.
Production duties are being handled by Ali Bell under Party Over Here, the banner co-founded by Schaffer alongside his The Lonely Island collaborators Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone. At the studio level, Jessica Virtue and Cady Stark are overseeing the project.
The new film adds to Disney’s ongoing strategy of revisiting its animated legacy through live-action reinterpretations. The original Cinderella debuted as a 1950 animated feature, telling the story of a young woman forced into servitude by her stepmother and stepsisters before a magical turn of events leads her to a royal ball and a chance encounter with a prince.
The studio previously revisited the tale in 2015 with a live-action adaptation starring Lily James, Cate Blanchett, and Richard Madden, while Sophie McShera and Holliday Grainger portrayed the stepsisters. That film went on to earn more than $540 million globally.
Beyond Stepsisters, Disney continues to expand its slate of live-action adaptations. A new version of Tangled is back in development after being temporarily halted following the underperformance of Snow White, which starred Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot. The studio has since rebounded with the success of Lilo & Stitch, while a live-action Moana is scheduled for release later this year. Additionally, a project centred on Gaston, the villain from Beauty and the Beast, is also in development.
Schaffer’s recent directorial work includes last summer’s The Naked Gun, headlined by Liam Neeson, further cementing his association with comedic reinterpretations of established properties.